Indianapolis - The Citadel rifle coach William C. Smith has been named to the NCAA Rifle Committee for a four-year term.
As a committee member, Smith will be involved with the program on a national basis which is charged with identifying and selecting sites for regional and national competitions. The committee is also responsible for additions and corrections to the NCAA Air Rifle and Smallbore Rifle Rule books.
“This is a tremendous honor for Coach Smith and The Citadel,” said Director of Athletics Les Robinson, who was a six-year member of the prestigious basketball committee. “Coach Smith has done great things for our rifle program, and he is now positioned to help nationally. I'm certain he'll be an asset to the committee.”
Smith, a native Charlestonian, has made great strides with the rifle program, moving it from a club sport back to an intercollegiate sport. He has guided The Citadel's rifle program the past nine years and serves as both the men's and women's head coach.
“I'm honored and flattered to be on this committee,” said Smith. “It is a credit to our institution and our program, and I'd like to think that our new facility has a lot to do with it. Regardless of how I got on the committee, I will do my best.”
Under Smith's direction, The Citadel finished third in the SEARC in both 2005 and 2006, and second in '07. The Bulldogs also finished second in the SEARC in '04, and ended the '03 season as runner-up in the conference with five Academic All-American shooters. The Citadel had a one-loss season and conference championship in 2002.
The 2001 season marked the first time the team won the SEARC Championships since it was reinstated as a varsity sport. The Citadel's last championship was in 1999. Also in 2001, Smith led the Bulldog shooters to individual and team NCAA sectionals, competing against teams from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.
The Citadel recently completed construction of a new indoor shooting range facility in February 2006. The Inouye Marksmanship Center is the state-of-the-art facility in the SEARC and contains 16 points for smallbore/center fire and air-rifles at 50-feet. The Bulldogs plan to bid on hosting NCAA rifle championships in the immediate future and with Smith on the committee, the chances are increased.
